Plans for more than 1,600 new homes could be approved by South Somerset District Council in the coming months.

The coronavirus has made it difficult for planning decisions to be taken in public through committees – which in turn has made its harder for residents to make their voices heard.

Following recent guidance from central government, planning committees will still be able to meet virtually – either to make decisions themselves or to make a recommendation to the chief executive, who will formally make the decision.

With the government determined that as many functions of local government carry on as normal during the crisis, there are numerous applications for large or decent-sized developments across the district which could be approved before the meeting restrictions are lifted.

Here are 15 major developments which could be approved while the current emergency measures are in place...

A358 Tatworth Road, Chard (263 homes):

Persimmon Homes South West originally put forward plans in 2016 for 315 homes on this crucial site within the Chard Eastern Development Area (CEDA). The council urged the developer to “think again” in July 2019 in light of significant local opposition to the proposals, including flood risk, traffic congestion and the design of the houses. The developer has now come back with new proposals, reducing the number of homes to 263 and reiterating its pledge to deliver the first part of a new road which will eventually connect the A358 to the A30

Lawrence Hill, Wincanton (210 homes):

This major development not far from the King Arthur secondary school would see a further 210 homes be built at Wincanton’s western edge. Outline plans were put forward by Gladman Developments in July 2019, which entail open space and a green buffer along the eastern and southern sides of the development site

Station Road, Castle Cary (200 homes):

Castle Cary and the adjoining parish of Ansford has seen a large amount of housing development in the last few years. This latest development of 200 homes is a joint venture between Wyke Farms Ltd and Andrew Hopkins Concrete Ltd, wrapping around the southern edge of Castle Cary railway station. Access will be from Station Road, with pedestrian access to the station to be agreed at a later stage

Tintinhull Road, Yeovil (185 homes):

This development site lies a stone’s throw from the major Brimsmore development site which is currently being built out at Yeovil’s north-western edge. Gladman Developments put forward plans in November 2019, showing the homes wrapping around the existing garden centre with a new access onto Tintinhull Road rather than the busy A37 towards Ilchester

B3168 Station Road, Ilminster (150 homes and employment units): the former Horlicks factory site at Ilminster’s western edge has been earmarked for developments for a number of years. Dairygold Co-operative Society Ltd put forward these plans in January 2019 for 150 homes on the northern side of the B3168 Station Road and a range of employment units (including a car showroom and a drive-thru) on the southern side. Concerns have been raised about the flood risk from the River Isle which runs near the site, but calls for a “significant redesign” do not seem to have been heeded

Bayford Hill, Wincanton (100 homes):

Oxford Law Ltd was refused permission on appeal to build 150 homes on this Wincanton site back in February 2018. These new plans from Greystoke Land Ltd feature 100 homes at the western end of the site, linking up to an existing playing field. The eastern edge of the site will be given over to substantial planting to preserve the boundary between Wincanton and the neighbouring hamlet of Bayford

 A358 Tatworth Road, Chard (94 homes):

This site lies within the CEDA between the Persimmon site and a separate development of 200 homes currently being constructed by Kier Living South West. Summerfield Developments originally submitted plans in late-April 2019, but the council has repeatedly postponed a decision on the matter. The developer will be expected to contribute towards the spine road that will be delivered just down the road

Manor Farm, Templecombe (80 homes):

This site is one of several developments planned for this small village on the A357.  Gleeson Strategic Land has put forward outline plans, with an access road being created from Combe Hill at the village’s southern edge and a new community wood being proposed near existing houses. Former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton – whose house is near the site – said she feared Templecombe being “used as a cut-through from the A303 to the A30”, arguing any new development should “done well and in a well thought-out way”

Bancombe Road, Somerton (71 homes):

Fairfax Somerton Ltd was granted outline permission by the council’s area north committee in September 2019 to build 130 homes between Bancombe Road and Bradley Hill Lane. The site is sandwiched between the Bancombe Road trading estate and the Northfield housing development, with the new site of King Ina Church of England Academy lying to the north. These amended plans from Bloor Homes South West concern phase one of this development (including the Bancombe Road access), with plans for the remaining 59 homes to be submitted at a later date

Brewham Road, Bruton (19/03103/OUT – 70 homes): plans for 60 homes on the opposite site of Brewham Road were approved by the council’s regulation committee in November 2019, leading locals to accuse councillors of having “no common sense”. London-based Southern & Regional Developments has now put forward plans for a further 70 homes on the opposite site of Brewham Road, with access from Wyvern Close

Wheathill Lane, Milborne Port (65 homes, convenience store and community hub): outline plans for this Redcliffe Homes development were approved by the council’s regulation committee in November 2018. These amended plans involve altering the access to Wheathill Lane from Station Road, with the new houses feeding off the redirected road. Both the community hub and the planned shop will be at the site’s western end

West Street, Templecombe (49 homes): this development was refused by the council’s area east committee in February, with councillors arguing the plans went against its own planning policies and would put residents of the “under siege” village at risk. The council’s regulation committee was due to make a final decision in March, but its meeting was cancelled in light of the crisis. This committee will still have to decide the plans’ fate – and with virtual meetings due to phased in, that could happen very soon

West Camel Road, Queen Camel (43 homes):

This proposed development wraps around existing comes on West Camel Road and is within walking distance of the recently-relocated Countess Gytha Primary School. But the land owned beyond the development extends far beyond the school on the other side of the road – meaning this could be the first phase of a major expansion of this village not far from the A303

Dancing Lane, Wincanton (39 homes):

Hopkins Developments won outline permission on appeal in 2015 to build up to 55 homes on this site near Wincanton Community Hospital. These revised plans reduce this number to 39, with the existing parking for NHS staff being relocated. The council has said it is awaiting on Wessex Water’s plans to improve the site’s drainage before it can make a decision – but this information is expected imminently

Claycastle, Haselbury Plucknett (35 homes):

These plans were put forward by Mark Keating, who represents the Coker division on Somerset County Council and recently stood (unsuccessfully) in the Parrett ward by-election for South Somerset District Council. The plans – which have been highly controversial among local residents – were due to be debated by the council’s regulation committee in March, but the meeting was postponed.